Davie Turnbull (8, 22)
Martin McGarvey (30)
Robert Downs (73, 86)

Pollok enjoyed a comfortable five-goal victory against Benburb when the sides met in a friendly match at Tinto Park. The game saw a welcome return from injury for Andy McClay, making his first appearance in a Pollok jersey since last March, while Martin McGarvey and a trialist goalkeeper were both included for the first time for 'Lok.

It was McClay who claimed the assist for Pollok's opener after eight minutes when his high ball arrived out of the night sky at the feet of DAVIE TURNBULL, who volleyed home past the Bens 'keeper. Pollok doubled their advantage after 22 minutes when McGarvey burst down the left hand side of the park and drew the 'keeper before rolling the ball across the face of goal to the waiting DAVIE TURNBULL for a simple finish. After half an hour Pollok claimed a third when Zander Ryan released David McGeown behind the Benburb defence, but rather than shoot he unselfishly squared to MARTIN McGARVEY for a tap-in to mark his debut. Pollok could have had a fourth just before the break, but Brian Mackay could only hit the crossbar from close range.

McGarvey had a shot deflected wide just after half-time, while Alan Waddell saw a shot on the turn saved after 48 minutes. Mackay and Paul Hyslop both narrowly missed the target wide before 'Lok grabbed a fourth goal after 73 minutes. Turnbull's free-kick was spilled by the home goalkeeper and substitute ROBERT DOWNS reacted first to force the ball home. Pollok completed the scoring four minutes from time with the goal of the game. Waddell broke down the left and threaded a pass through to Downs. He switched the play to Hyslop on the right, who brought the ball under control and flighted it back over to ROBERT DOWNS, who headed home the fifth and final goal of the evening.

Pollok: Trialist, Ryan (Carruth 46), Cruickshank (Dingwall 68), Aitchison (McKeown 46), Heaton, McClay (Downs 68), McGeown (Hyslop 46), McGarvey, Turnbull, Waddell, Mackay.

Barry Smith (55)

Bryan Dingwall 7
Robert Downs 53 (pen)

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Pollok were forced to dig deep before finally securing a place in the last eight of the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup as they defeated Ballingry Rovers by two goals to one at Ore Park. There were three changes for Pollok from their win over Darvel, with Joe Carruth, Zander Ryan and David McGeown all returning to the side at the expense of Stevie Miller, Raymond Logan and Richie Newall.

Ryan and McGeown almost combined to give 'Lok a first minute lead when the latter headed over a cross from the former. At the other end Kris Robertson had to make a fine low save to keep out a Lee Sutherland free-kick before Pollok took a seventh minute lead. Brian McKeown dribbled out of defence and found Robert Downs at halfway, and he in turn found McGeown. McGeown fed the ball forwards towards BRYAN DINGWALL, who met it perfectly on the volley and despatched it beyond Kevin Smith in the home goal. Dingwall then headed wide from a Ryan cross, while Robertson made another good save low to his right to stop a Barry Smith header from a Ballingry free-kick.

Craig Smart drove just wide after 16 minutes, and Lee Dair forced another save from Robertson eight minutes later with a weak effort from distance. Downs then headed just wide for 'Lok, and Smith had to be alert to rush from his line to stop Dingwall after Downs had played him in after 29 minutes. A mistake by Chris Cruickshank two minutes later gave Craig McMillan a sight of goal, but he fired over the target. Sixty seconds later Robertson touched over a header by Smart before gathering a shot on the turn from James Adam. The Pollok 'keeper had to make another good stop before half-time as he parried another free-kick from Dair, before preventing Smith from seizing upon the rebound.

With the advantage of both the wind and the Ore Park slope in the second half it was Pollok who opened the second period in the brightest fashion, with Carruth firing wildly off target from an excellent position. Dingwall then volleyed over after some good work on the left by McGeown, but it wasn't long before Pollok doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute. A flailing boot from Brian Dempster caught Downs around the ribs, and referee Pat Rafferty pointed to the penalty spot. ROBERT DOWNS struck the kick perfectly to beat Smith, despite the 'keeper diving the correct way. Rovers were right back in the game just two minutes later when BARRY SMITH looped a header from a Dair free-kick past Robertson to reduce the deficit. Ryan came close with a free-kick that dipped just over the crossbar, while the hosts had strong penalty appeals waved away at the other end.

Pollok had a great opportunity to wrap things up when Downs picked out Paul Hyslop with a terrific crossfield pass. Hyslop killed the ball with his first touch, only to see the 'keeper push his goalbound strike around the post for a corner. Smith then shot just wide for Rovers, who almost levelled matters with three minutes left to play. Sutherland appeared to use an arm to bring the ball under control before feeding Adam on the left. He managed to cut inside the Pollok defence, only to be stopped by the onrushing Robertson who narrowed the angle superbly. Pollok broke to the other end through substitute Brian Mackay, but he failed to take the ball around Smith and so squandered an excellent opportunity.

Ballingry were reduced to ten men in injury time when Dempster received a second yellow card after a late challenge on Hyslop, and Pollok played out time without suffering any more scares.

The win gives Pollok a quarter-final berth for the second season in a row, and sets them up nicely for a local derby in the Stagecoach Super Premier League next week against Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park.

Chris Lynn (13)
George Kelly (57)
Martin Stewart (78)

Robert Downs (7 pen, 43 pen, 46)
Richy Newall (19)
Bryan Dingwall (25, 34, 36, 42)
Raymond Logan (31)
Paul Hyslop (62)

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Pollok cantered into the third round of the Whyte and Mackay West of Scotland Cup with a comprehensive 10-3 demolition of Darvel at Newlandsfield Park. 'Lok welcomed back Rab Sneddon to the dug-out after a period of illness, and his side opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

Bryan Dingwall was shoved in the penalty box by Simon Lindsay as he chased a Stevie Miller cross, and ROBERT DOWNS converted the resultant spot kick. Darvel equalised six minutes later when a speculative cross by CHRIS LYNN was misjudged by Kris Robertson, who allowed the ball to float into the net via the inside of the post. Robertson's long clearance shortly afterwards was collected by Dingwall, but Andy Roseburgh rushed from his goal to block the striker.

'Lok were back in front after 19 minutes when Dingwall showed great footwork to create space in the area, and when his shot was blocked RICHIE NEWALL prodded home the rebound. Newall then sliced an effort wide and Downs headed off target before Pollok added a third. Downs played the ball to BRYAN DINGWALL, who danced his way past the attentions of three defenders before shooting low into the bottom corner of Roseburgh's net. Dingwall then beat Roseburgh to the ball at the edge of the box and chipped it towards Newall, who somehow contrived to chest the ball wide of goal when faced with an empty net. A fourth goal arrived after 31 minutes when Paul Hyslop beat his man on the right and crossed to RAYMOND LOGAN, who tapped home into an unguarded net.

Three minutes later Darvel's defence failed to clear their lines properly and allowed Downs to cross for BRYAN DINGWALL, who bulleted the ball home with a diving header. Roseburgh saved well from a Newall free-kick, but conceded a sixth goal after 36 minutes. Logan's effort was headed off the line to Downs, who saw his shot parried to BRYAN DINGWALL, who completed his hat-trick with an acrobatic overhead kick. He then claimed his fourth when a Hyslop corner was headed on to BRYAN DINGWALL, who nodded home from close range. Shortly before the interval Grant Kirkwood hauled down Downs inside the area, and referee Frank Connor pointed to the spot once more. ROBERT DOWNS dusted himself off before slotting home his second penalty kick of the day.

It took just 34 seconds from the second half restart for Pollok to make the score 9-1. ROBERT DOWNS' cross from the right completely deceived Roseburgh and landed in the net for the second 'Lok hat-trick of the day. Downs headed over from a Newall cross before Darvel scored their second. After Aitchison was dispossessed, a mishit back-pass from Newall ballooned into the air and landed at the feet of GEORGE KELLY, who lobbed the ball over the advancing Robertson and into the net. Dingwall and Downs made way for Alan Waddell and Davie Turnbull, and the pair combined to create Pollok's tenth. Waddell showed good skill on the left before playing in Turnbull. He was denied by Roseburgh, only for the ball to fall to PAUL HYSLOP, who had the simplest of tasks to tap home from a yard out.

Logan forced a point blank save from Roseburgh after 70 minutes, and it was the Ayrshire side who scored the final goal of the game eight minutes later. Gary Wilson was left having to mark two players as the 'Lok defence was pulled out of shape, with Elliot McDonald eventually setting up MARTIN STEWART for a fine finish from the right-hand edge of the penalty area. Roseburgh made another excellent stop from a close range Waddell header that rebounded to Chris Cruickshank, who only succeeded in driving the ball against his prostrate team-mate. Pollok should have added to their tally in the final minute when Turnbull squared for Brian Mackay, but he blazed the ball over an empty target from six yards out.

'Lok can expect a far tougher challenge next week when they travel East to face Ballingry Rovers in the last sixteen of the Scottish Junior Cup.